Traveling to me is sacred. It's the greatest gift I've given myself in this lifetime.

It's opened my eyes and heart to the most joyous and meaningful lessons I could've ever imagined. And oh the lessons I've learned! I've learned so much about myself through personal retreats and I've learned about people, about places, about human nature and about Mother Earth.

When it comes to planning my trips now, it's second nature. I've been through all the trial and error of packing blunders and successes so you don't have to. I'm here to help you empower yourself with this list of travel essentials for women so that you can feel confident as you set off for your next adventure.

Whether you're traveling with your partner, a group, on your own, or maybe your dreaming up your next weekend getaway, this list will be your go-to so you're prepared for any plan you might have and the unexpected turns that inevitably await you!

Need a little help manifesting the adventure of your dreams?

Check out...

Some people seem to effortlessly attract the life they want... a successful business, a dream job, a dream house...

A dream life.

Wanna know their secret??

As a life coach with over 30 years of experience, I've helped countless individuals unlock the innate mechanism we’re all born with, allowing them to unleash that powerful inner flow and channel it toward the best things to manifest in life!

And I know what you're thinking, but the truth is, manifestation isn’t just a trendy concept—it’s a powerful tool grounded in both ancient wisdom and modern science.

The science emerging now reveals how our brains are designed to turn focused thoughts into just what we want. By learning and applying these principles, you can start attracting positive changes and experiences into your life.

In this article, we’ll explore 7 transformative things you can manifest to bring more joy, success, and fulfillment into your everyday life.

Let's get started making those...

If you’re here looking for self-care ideas for women, it’s because you’ve done the first step of self-care - saying “yes” to self-care. That’s huge!

Please don’t let this go unnoticed or uncelebrated because it's often just too easy to make excuses, forget to do it, or fall victim to our blindspots keeping us from self care.

But now what?

How do you spend that precious time you’ve carved out just for you? It can be a little intimidating, right? 

But let me be that little birdie in your ear reminding you, “Any act of self-care is enough.” Ladies, don’t let yourself stress out over self-care! Let’s make it easy and restorative. Really, that’s the whole point. 

I made this list of self care ideas specifically with busy, badass women in mind. (Hey, Mamas!) 

There’s no wrong way to use this list, but here are a few ideas:

• Pick a few for your self-care Sunday lineup.
• Print it out...

This is what our temps have been like for a week now.

We're in the middle of a heat dome now in Northern California, and folks, IT IS HOT.

Hotter than hot. It’s an inferno here.

We can see now that climate change is changing the way we live.

Just this week, my friends in Colorado, Helene, and Dave Van Manen, have been watching a wildfire from their backyard, just three miles away. They can see the flames and smoke and have their car packed and ready with important documents in case they have to evacuate. CLICK HERE to read their story. They've included photos and a treat at the end of the article.

This is how many people live now, especially in the West.

It's real, and it's scary.

It will get worse. I don’t know about you, but it leaves me with that helpless feeling in the pit of my stomach.

It's the same with Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, a place we rarely hear about in the news where there's violence against women and girls. Forced child marriages and rape are rampant. And...

Summer is the best time to feel like yourself. It’s a perfect time to savor every day.

Summertime has the potential to help you:

1. Rejuvenate and reset
2. Embrace joy and laughter
3. Unleash creativity
4. Prioritize ultimate self-care

When we're having fun, we put aside the worries, the goals, the stress, the have to’s. We can look at where we’ve been and where we’re going. 

Let's start with what you want 

Sometimes, we're so busy, that we don't even know what we want and we don't take the time to figure it out.  

Ask yourself these questions:

What would make this an unforgettable summer? 

What if it was the first summer I got to ________

If I had all the free time I wanted this summer, I'd ________

The best summer I ever had was _________.

These questions can give you clues to what you're longing for and what makes you happy. 

Sit down right now and write it out. Get out your journal and dream. 

I give you full permission to dream...

Traveling to other countries will always fire me up. 

There's something about the journey that leaves you with a refreshed perspective on life. And when it comes to certain trips, you know they'll be filled with adventure and the thrill of the unknown.

Our excursion to Baja was just that. 

It was rocky from the start; tempers flared and anger hung over us. We weren’t in the best place as a couple to begin this journey. 

We went anyway. 

I'll admit, the idea of traveling to Mexico left me uneasy. My imagination ran wild from tales of the cartel capturing us to being innocent bystanders caught in a crossfire.

When I mentioned our plans to my son Andrew, his imagination went into overdrive.

“Mom, really... you're going to  Mexico?” 

He painted a dire picture of us held captive, me, in the back of a pickup truck tied up, dehydrated, and Thom with a gash on his forehead from being hit with a gun. We laughed about it while I...

What do you want to be known for? And what are you here for?

These questions.

Why do they stop me in my tracks? 

Because I don’t always know the answer, and it assumes that we're here for a reason. 

These are weighty questions. They imply that we're here for a reason, and each of us has a purpose.

Some scoff at this, dismissing the idea that your purpose is nonsense. Existentialists might argue that life is inherently meaningless.

But for me, it’s important to give meaning to life.  

Sometimes, it's as simple as asking what I want from life. What makes me uniquely me? What talents and skills do I bring to the table?

Are you searching for meaning in your life?

If so, you're not alone. In a world that's crazy and troubled, it's a good question to ask yourself. Knowing your purpose and why you're here can guide and keep you grounded. It's also true that finding your true purpose can seem like an impossible task. But it's worth coming back to so that you...

When I first heard about self-love, I couldn't help but chuckle. It seemed like a punchline in a joke. After all, aren't we taught to prioritize others above ourselves from a young age?
Be selfless, not selfish... that's the narrative I grew up with, especially as a woman.

Reflecting on my upbringing, I realized that the women in my life, though remarkable in so many ways, rarely exemplified self-love. They epitomized giving, always putting others' needs before their own. And so, naturally, I followed suit.

We know that self-care goes right along with self-love. But why is it so hard? 

Years ago when my first coach asked me what I do for self-care, I stumbled to think of some words to say to her and silently thought, "What the hell is she talking about?"

I thought a lot about that question, feeling perplexed and a bit resistant.

Breaking free from the ingrained belief that self-love equated to selfishness wasn't easy.

But then came the epiphany…by nurturing myself,...

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."   Albert Einstein 

This quote has always been one of my favorites. I'm all in for option #2 as we step into this new year. I'm also committed to helping you make it your best year ever. 

Picture this: Thom and I packed up our truck the day after Christmas and headed to Southern California.  If you’re like me, camping in the wintertime does not sound fun, but we chose Anza Borrego desert, about 40 miles from the Mexican border. Trust me, I have no regrets.

This trip was pure magic.

Photo taken at 1:00 am...completely untouched

We're big fans of dispersed camping, where you can set up anywhere on BLM land without reserving a campsite months in advance. Anza Borrego, although a state park, lets you camp almost anywhere. Want to build a fire? Just use one of those cool round metal containers. We did build a fire every night. ...

As the winter solstice unfolds its quiet magic today, I find myself reflecting on the significance of this day. It's a gentle reminder to pause before we dive headlong into the hustle and bustle of Christmas.

On this serene solstice morning, I'm reaching out to you with an invitation—to join me in taking a moment to simply be.

I understand the pull to rush around, ticking off tasks for Christmas preparations—shopping, baking, gift wrapping—all vying for our attention. Yet, today is not about succumbing to that pressure; rather, it's an opportunity to resist the urge to hurry.

You might be thinking

"Darkness isn't my favorite time of the year, and Christmas is always challenging." It's true, this season can be difficult, filled with loss and grief. The darkness outside often mirrors the struggles within, making it harder to find motivation and to rise above sadness and depression.

However, even in the heart of this darkness, there lies a purpose—a chance to...